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2019 Vol. 36, No. 8

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CAS FGOALS-f3-L Model Datasets for CMIP6 Historical Atmospheric Model Intercomparison Project Simulation
Bian HE, Qing BAO*, Xiaocong WANG, Linjiong ZHOU, Xiaofei WU, Yimin LIU, Guoxiong WU, Kangjun CHEN, Sicheng HE, Wenting HU, Jiandong LI, Jinxiao LI, Guokui NIAN, Lei WANG, Jing YANG, Minghua ZHANG, Xiaoqi ZHANG
2019, (8): 771-778. doi: 10.1007/s00376-019-9027-8
Abstract:
The outputs of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Flexible Global Ocean-Atmosphere-Land System (FGOALS-f3-L) model for the baseline experiment of the Atmospheric Model Intercomparison Project simulation in the Diagnostic, Evaluation and Characterization of Klima common experiments of phase 6 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6) are described in this paper. The CAS FGOALS-f3-L model, experiment settings, and outputs are all given. In total, there are three ensemble experiments over the period 1979-2014, which are performed with different initial states. The model outputs contain a total of 37 variables and include the required three-hourly mean, six-hourly transient, daily and monthly mean datasets. The baseline performances of the model are validated at different time scales. The preliminary evaluation suggests that the CAS FGOALS-f3-L model can capture the basic patterns of atmospheric circulation and precipitation well, including the propagation of the Madden-Julian Oscillation, activities of tropical cyclones, and the characterization of extreme precipitation. These datasets contribute to the benchmark of current model behaviors for the desired continuity of CMIP.
Influence of Intraseasonal Oscillation on the Asymmetric Decays of El Niño and La Niña
Xiaomeng SONG, Renhe ZHANG, Xinyao RONG
2019, (8): 779-792. doi: 10.1007/s00376-019-9029-6
Abstract:
Warm and cold phases of El Ni?o-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) exhibit a significant asymmetry in their decay speed. To explore the physical mechanism responsible for this asymmetric decay speed, the asymmetric features of anomalous sea surface temperature (SST) and atmospheric circulation over the tropical Western Pacific (WP) in El Ni?o and La Ni?a mature-to-decay phases are analyzed. It is found that the interannual standard deviations of outgoing longwave radiation and 850 hPa zonal wind anomalies over the equatorial WP during El Ni?o (La Ni?a) mature-to-decay phases are much stronger (weaker) than the intraseasonal standard deviations. It seems that the weakened (enhanced) intraseasonal oscillation during El Ni?o (La Ni?a) tends to favor a stronger (weaker) interannual variation of the atmospheric wind, resulting in asymmetric equatorial WP zonal wind anomalies in El Ni?o and La Ni?a decay phases. Numerical experiments demonstrate that such asymmetric zonal wind stress anomalies during El Ni?o and La Ni?a decay phases can lead to an asymmetric decay speed of SST anomalies in the central-eastern equatorial Pacific through stimulating different equatorial Kelvin waves. The largest negative anomaly over the Ni?o3 region caused by the zonal wind stress anomalies during El Ni?o can be threefold greater than the positive Ni?o3 SSTA anomalies during La Ni?a, indicating that the stronger zonal wind stress anomalies over the equatorial WP play an important role in the faster decay speed during El Ni?o.
Cloud Classification and Distribution of Cloud Types in Beijing Using Ka-Band Radar Data
Juan HUO, Yongheng BI, Daren Lü, Shu DUAN
2019, (8): 793-803. doi: 10.1007/s00376-019-8272-1
Abstract:
A cloud clustering and classification algorithm is developed for a ground-based Ka-band radar system in the vertically pointing mode. Cloud profiles are grouped based on the combination of a time-height clustering method and the k-means clustering method. The cloud classification algorithm, developed using a fuzzy logic method, uses nine physical parameters to classify clouds into nine types: cirrostratus, cirrocumulus, altocumulus, altostratus, stratus, stratocumulus, nimbostratus, cumulus or cumulonimbus. The performance of the clustering and classification algorithm is presented by comparison with all-sky images taken from January to June 2014. Overall, 92% of the cloud profiles are clustered successfully and the agreement in classification between the radar system and the all-sky imager is 87%. The distribution of cloud types in Beijing from January 2014 to December 2017 is studied based on the clustering and classification algorithm. The statistics show that cirrostratus clouds have the highest occurrence frequency (24%) among the nine cloud types. High-level clouds have the maximum occurrence frequency and low-level clouds the minimum occurrence frequency.
A Method for Diagnosing the Secondary Circulation with Saturated Moist Entropy Structure in a Mature Tropical Cyclone
Yiwu HUANG, Yihong DUAN, Johnny C. L. CHAN, Xuwei BAO
2019, (8): 804-810. doi: 10.1007/s00376-019-9054-5
Abstract:
Under the adiabatic, axisymmetric and steady assumption, a relationship between the saturated moist entropy structure and the secondary circulation in a tropical cyclone (TC) is derived from the continuity equation. It is found that the isentropic surfaces coincide with the streamlines, and the streamfunction can be expressed with saturated moist entropy. The secondary circulation and the saturated moist entropy structure depend on each other. Thus, a method for diagnosing the secondary circulation with the structure of saturated moist entropy is proposed. The method is verified with a simulated intense idealized TC with a highly axisymmetric structure. The diagnosed secondary circulation reproduces well the moist inflow in the boundary layer and the moist updraft in the eyewall. This method facilitates secondary circulation diagnosis in theoretical or mature TCs that satisfy the adiabatic, axisymmetric and steady approximations.
Simulated Influence of the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation on Summer Eurasian Nonuniform Warming since the Mid-1990s
Xueqian SUN, Shuanglin LI, Xiaowei HONG, Riyu LU
2019, (8): 811-822. doi: 10.1007/s00376-019-8169-z
Abstract:
Based on ensemble experiments with three atmospheric general circulation models (AGCMs), this study investigates the role of the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) in shaping the summer nonuniform warming over the Eurasian continent since the mid-1990s. The results validate that the positive-phase AMO can indeed cause nonuniform warming, with predominant amplified warming over Europe-West Asia and Northeast Asia, but with much weaker warming over Central Asia. The underlying mechanism is then diagnosed from the perspective that the boundary forcing modulates the intrinsic atmospheric variability. The results highlight the role of the Silk Road Pattern (SRP), an intrinsic teleconnection pattern across the subtropical Eurasian continent propagating along the Asian jet. The SRP can not only be identified from the AGCM control experiments with the climatological sea surface temperature (SST), but can also be simulated by the AMO-related SST anomaly (SSTA) forcing. Furthermore, diagnostic linear baroclinic model experiments are conducted, and the results suggest that the SRP can be triggered by the AMO-related tropical diabatic heating. The AMO-triggered SRP-like responses feature anticyclonic circulations over Europe-West Asia and Northeast Asia, but cyclonic circulation over Central Asia. These responses cause increased warm advection towards Europe-West Asia and Northeast Asia, reduced precipitation and cloud cover, and then increased downward shortwave radiation. This increased warm advection and increased downward shortwave radiation together cause amplified warming in Europe-West Asia and Northeast Asia. The situation is opposite for Central Asia.
The Effect of Super Volcanic Eruptions on Ozone Depletion in a Chemistry-Climate Model
Luyang XU, Ke WEI, Xue WU, S. P. SMYSHLYAEV, Wen CHEN, V. Ya. GALIN
2019, (8): 823-836. doi: 10.1007/s00376-019-8241-8
Abstract:
With the gradual yet unequivocal phasing out of ozone depleting substances (ODSs), the environmental crisis caused by the discovery of an ozone hole over the Antarctic has lessened in severity and a promising recovery of the ozone layer is predicted in this century. However, strong volcanic activity can also cause ozone depletion that might be severe enough to threaten the existence of life on Earth. In this study, a transport model and a coupled chemistry-climate model were used to simulate the impacts of super volcanoes on ozone depletion. The volcanic eruptions in the experiments were the 1991 Mount Pinatubo eruption and a 100× Pinatubo size eruption. The results show that the percentage of global mean total column ozone depletion in the 2050 RCP8.5 100× Pinatubo scenario is approximately 6% compared to two years before the eruption and 6.4% in tropics. An identical simulation, 100× Pinatubo eruption only with natural source ODSs, produces an ozone depletion of 2.5% compared to two years before the eruption, and with 4.4% loss in the tropics. Based on the model results, the reduced ODSs and stratospheric cooling lighten the ozone depletion after super volcanic eruption.
Predictability of Ensemble Forecasting Estimated Using the Kullback-Leibler Divergence in the Lorenz Model
Ruiqiang DING, Baojia LIU, Bin GU, Jianping LI, Xuan LI
2019, (8): 837-846. doi: 10.1007/s00376-019-9034-9
Abstract:
A new method to quantify the predictability limit of ensemble forecasting is presented using the Kullback-Leibler (KL) divergence (also called the relative entropy), which provides a measure of the difference between the probability distributions of ensemble forecasts and local reference (true) states. The KL divergence is applicable to a non-normal distribution of ensemble forecasts, which is a substantial improvement over the previous method using the ensemble spread. An example from the three-variable Lorenz model illustrates the effectiveness of the KL divergence, which can effectively quantify the predictability limit of ensemble forecasting. On this basis, the KL divergence is used to investigate the dependence of the predictability limit of ensemble forecasting on the initial states and the magnitude of initial errors. The local predictability limit of ensemble forecasting varies considerably with the initial states, as well as with the magnitude of initial errors. Further research is needed to examine the real-world applications of the KL divergence in measuring the predictability of ensemble weather forecasts.
Anthropogenic Aerosol Pollution over the Eastern Slope of the Tibetan Plateau
Rui JIA, Min LUO, Yuzhi LIU, Qingzhe ZHU, Shan HUA, Chuqiao WU, Tianbin SHAO
2019, (8): 847-862. doi: 10.1007/s00376-019-8212-0
Abstract:
In this study, a combination of satellite observations and reanalysis datasets is used to analyze the spatiotemporal distribution, classification and source of pollutants over the eastern slope of the Tibetan Plateau (ESTP). The aerosol optical depth (AOD) over the ESTP is extremely large and even larger than some important industrialized regions and deserts. The main aerosol component over the ESTP is sulfate, followed by carbonaceous and dust aerosols. Local emissions related to human activity directly contribute to the accumulation of sulfate and carbonaceous aerosols over the Sichuan Basin. In addition, in spring, abundant carbonaceous aerosols emitted from forest, grassland and savanna fires in Southeast Asia can be transported by the prevailing southwesterly wind to southern China and the ESTP. The dust AOD over the ESTP peaks in spring because of the transport from the Taklimakan and Gobi deserts. Additionally, the high aerosol loading over the ESTP is also directly related to the meteorological background. Due to the special topography, the terrain-driven circulation can trap aerosols in the Sichuan Basin and these aerosols can climb along the ESTP due to the perennial updraft. The aerosol loading is lowest in summer because of effective wet deposition induced by the strong precipitation and better dispersion conditions due to the larger vertical temperature gradients and ascending air movement enhanced by the plateau heat pump effect. In contrast, the aerosol loading is greatest in winter. Abundant anthropogenic aerosols over the ESTP may generate some climatic and environmental risks and consequently greatly influence the downstream regions.
Diurnal Variations of Precipitation over North China Regulated by the Mountain-plains Solenoid and Boundary-layer Inertial Oscillation
He PAN, Guixing CHEN
2019, (8): 863-884. doi: 10.1007/s00376-019-8238-3
Abstract:
The mountain-plains solenoid (MPS) and boundary-layer inertial oscillation (BLO) are two typical regional forcings at the diurnal time scale. Their relative role in regulating the diurnal variations of summer rainfall over North China and their change under different monsoon conditions are studied using a 19-yr archive of satellite rainfall and reanalysis data. It is shown that both a strong MPS and BLO can increase nocturnal rainfall in the North China plains but exhibit evident regional differences. The MPS-induced nocturnal rainfall is relatively confined to the plains adjacent to mountains from late night to morning, due to the upward branch of the nighttime MPS. In contrast, the BLO-induced nocturnal rainfall strengthens from early evening and is more extensive in early morning over the open plains further east. The contrasting effect in the evening is related to the convergent (divergent) easterly anomaly in the plains under the BLO (MPS). The BLO also induces the relatively strong enhancement of moisture convergence and high humidity by the southerly anomaly at late night. On strong monsoon days, the nocturnal rainfall amount associated with the MPS and BLO increases considerably in the plains. Both regional forcings become effective in regulating the rainfall diurnal cycle with enhanced moisture convergence under monsoon conditions. Their induced diurnal amplitudes of moisture convergence can be comparable to the daily mean by monsoon flow. The regional forcings thus couple with monsoon flow to strengthen rainfall in the plains, particularly from late night to morning. The results highlight that a combination of regional and large-scale forcings can strongly regulate the warm-season climate.